740.0011 European War 1939/10536a: Telegram
The Secretary of State to the Ambassador in France (Leahy)
375. This Government is increasingly concerned as the result of accumulative evidence that Germany is now bringing every kind of pressure to bear upon the Vichy Government to agree to large scale and ever-increasing infiltration of Germans into North Africa and Morocco; for free passage of German forces across unoccupied France [Page 159] to the Spanish frontier; and for a rapid change from France’s present position of capitulation to one of collaboration and even potential participation in the existing war on the side of Germany.
The Department feels that it is of the utmost importance that you see Marshal Pétain again immediately, and by all means alone. You should impress upon him the consistent and continuing desire of the United States to do what it can to give practical assistance to him and to the people of unoccupied France in relieving existing distress and in that connection you may state that your Government has today informed the French Ambassador in Washington that the United States agrees in principle to the last proposal made by the French Government as reported in your telegram 488, April 25, 6 p.m., and will undertake to negotiate immediately with the cooperation of the British Government an arrangement whereby two food ships can be made continuously available under such supervision and control by American representatives as has been agreed upon in the case of the two gift ships now on their way to France.
You should state that if the French Government acquiesces in the demands now being made upon it by Germany and agrees to conditions not provided in the Armistice or to any form of active collaboration with Germany, the practical assistance and the moral support which the United States ardently desires to make available to Marshal Pétain and to the French people both in unoccupied France and in North Africa could, of course, not be continued. In the considered opinion of the United States, the future liberty, independence, and greatness of France depends upon continued resistance by Marshal Pétain to these German encroachments.
You may further state to Marshal Pétain that this Government has been informed by the British Government that if the French Government will effectively resist these encroachments, it will give them the utmost assistance in its power. The British Government believes that it should be possible to hold Syria against any forces which the Axis could bring against it in the near future, and that in the event that the French Government resists, the French and British fleets acting together in the eastern Mediterranean could cut the Axis communications with Africa and make any descent by the Axis powers upon Syria a matter of grave hazard to Germany and Italy. The British Government has confidently asserted to the United States Government that French resistance and renewed Franco-British collaboration would go far to prevent the dangers which the French Government at the present fears.
In conclusion you should say that the United States Government understands the position of Marshal Pétain to be, as he has asserted to you, that he would agree to no encroachments by Germany over [Page 160] and above the conditions laid down in the Armistice. In full appreciation of the friendship between the French and the American peoples which has existed throughout the course of the independent life of the American nation, and with the most earnest hope on the part of this Government that France may again be restored to the full measure of her proud position in the family of nations, the Government of the United States trusts that the French Government will resist any illegal and illegitimate demands made upon her by Germany, and make such resistance felt in every practical way which may be available.
The Department feels it would be preferable that this message be delivered orally and that no written text be made available to the Marshal.